Jacquard.



T. A. B. CARVER.

JAGQUARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.18, 1911.

1,083,801 Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w 12a W130 25:32

W 120mm; Carve?" f %m Z T. A. B. CARVER.

JAGQUARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.18, 1911.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

4 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Hl AH COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. A. B. CARVER.

JAGQUARD. APPLIOATION FILED FEB.1B,'1911.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

fill I. b A

@06/1207" 17 0: as (/23. Caz" Z161 1 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.,w.xsnm1rrou,

T. A. B. CARVER.

JAGQUARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1911.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fizz/e7ifar 2 ovza (/ZJB, Carver z fat/1M0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ALBERT BRIGGS CARVER, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO TEXTILE APPLIANCES LIMITED, 013 GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

JACQUARD.

To all wk am it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALBERT BRIGGS CARVER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 33 Renfield street, Glasgow, Scotland, civil engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jacquards, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to jacquard mechanism of the kind in which the movement of the usual horizontal needles employed for throwing the vertical hooks of the jacquard into and out of operation to determine the pattern is controlled electrically as, for enample, in the manner described in the specification. of United States Patent No. t,299, dated 17th May, 1898.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical control attachment to jacquard machines which attachment is constructed as a self-contained mechanism which can be applied directly to existing jacquards without necessitating any alterations in their structure and without using any of the movements of the acquard in the operation of the attachment.

In the improved control attachment there is provided for each needle of the jacquard machine a separate control needle lying with its axis practically in line with that of the jacquard needle and shaped and guided at one end so that it can operate the jacquard needle in a manner analogous to the action of the ordinary card, and supported at its other end by a vertically reciprocating keeper which is associated with a corresponding magnet in such a way that the keeper always forms with the poles and core of the electro-magnet a closed magnetic cir- I cuit.

The attachment comprises in addition to the rows of needles which cooperate with the needles of the jacquard and the electro-magnets which control their action, a mechanism for feeding the pattern, apattern reader and mechanism for raising it periodically, a movable grid cooperating with the rows of needles and mechanism for actuating it, and a mechanism for periodically raising the armatures of the electromagnets. The periodic movements of means operated from the main driving shaft of the jacquard machine are provided for operating the said.

mechanisms from the main driving shaft in such a manner that the reader, the grid and ture raising mechanism. and Fig. 11 is a 119 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 609,450.

the armatures occur in definite relation one with the other and with the movements of the brander for lifting the hooks of the jacquard machine and with periodic variations of the strength of the energizing current of the electro-magnets, as will be hereinafter described.

The cycle of operations that occur in the control attachment and acquard machine is as follows :VVhen the armatures of the magnets are raised by the mechanism correlated therewith carrying with them the outer or free ends of the rows of the control needles, those armatures the magnets of which are receiving current, by means of the corresponding reader elements being pressed on metallic portions of the pattern, will remain raised upon withdrawal of the lifting bar and the needles associated with them will be clear of the grid, while the other armatures and associated needles will drop, as the corresponding elements of the reader are pressing upon non-metallic portions of the pattern and the energizing circuits of their magnets are consequently broken. Upon the forward stroke of the reciprocating grid these control needles which have dropped are driven forward by the gridand in their turn drive forward the corresponding needles of the jacquard which consequently carry the corresponding hooks out of engagement with the knives of the brander, so that the corresponding threads will not be lifted. Thus only those threads are lifted which correspond with the energized electro-magnets.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine embodying the invention, the left half of the figure showing a jacquard of usual construction and the right half the improved electric control attachment; Fig. 2 is a diagram for illustrating a complete cycle of operations of the various elements; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pattern feed mechanism; Fig. l is an elevation of a modified con-- struction, on an enlarged scale, of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations respectively of an armature and of a magnet; Figs. 7, 8 ant. 9 are diagrams illustrating the selection of the needles; Fig. 10 is a view showing a portion of the armadiagrammatic view of a transformer shown connected up with an electromagnet.

The movements of the brander of the jacquard machine indicated by the knives U in Fig. 1, may vary according to the particular weaving practice adopted, but the timing of the movements of the various elements of the attachment is related to the movement of the brander so that the full press of the needles of the jacquard is obtained at the usual moment of selection, namely when the brander is rising to engage the hooks which are in position to be lifted, so that the hooks which are pressed ofi by the action of the machine are not lifted by the brander.

The manner of and means for controlling the movements of the control needles will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 7-10. In these figures the electromagnets are denoted by a and are shown carried by a frame a. The armatures associated with the magneto have each a flange a disposed opposite the side of the corre sponding magnet. The vertical movement of the armatures a is obtained in proper relation to that of the other movements of the machine from the driven main shaft to, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of the cam I) mounted thereon, roller 0, levers (Z engag ing between collars c on vertically guided spindles (Fig. 10) (one at each end of the machine), crossbars f, (also one at each end of the machine) engaging the ends of all the slotted bars f upon which the armatures are resting, the connection between the crossbars f and spindles 6 being effected through a boss f on each crossbar into which the spindles are pinned as shown in Fig. 10. The armatures, as will be seen on reference to Fig. 10, are guided during their vertical movement by the flanges a and by the slots f of the cross bars f. The ends of the needles p rest on the armatures (Fig. 8) and are raised by them (Fig. 7) when the armatures are raised by the crossbars f, when cam b revolves with shaft w.

In Fig. 1 the grid 0 is of a horizontally reciprocating type and the horizontal reciprocation of the grid 0 by reason of which the needles 7; are moved longitudinally (when in position to engage the grid Fig. 8) is also obtained from the cam 5, namely through roller 0 and two arm lever (P, the outer arm (l of this lever being coupled with the grid through a journal 9 on a small bracket 9 fixed to the end plate 0 of the grid. The proper relation of these two movements is provided for by placing the pivots (Z (Z of the two levers (Z, (l in such relation that, while the one lever is in the idle position, the other is performing its movement, and vice versa. As shaft to revolves the end plate 0 will be reciprocated and with it the grid.

Fig. 1 shows also how the raising and lowering of the readers j out of and into contact with the pattern j are effected by the main shaft (4 through a groove 77, on the cam disk h which is keyed 0n the main shaft, roller 6 cooperating with the cam groove h and links 112?, m Link m is pivotally connected at one end to pivot m on lift j, and at the other end to roller 2'. Link m is pivotally connected at one end to roller 2' and at the other end to the fixed pivot m. For rocking the reader lift j upon the fulcrum j by means of the sliding spindle 7' it would be sufficient to drive the reader lift directly from the cam 71, were it not advisable to make provision for protecting the pattern when it isbeing turned by hand into a new position. The interpolation of the link motion m insures that when the cover 8 (Fig. 3) is lifted, the pivot or fulcrum m to which one of the links on is connected is shifted by means of link 6 (Figs. 1 and 3) into alinement with axis 112?, in which position the roller z', which rocks the fulcrum m about the center m when in the working position by means of the link m can then impart no movement because in that position the fulcrum m is co-axial with the fulcrum m upon which the lever carrying the roller i has its movement.

The relation of the various movements may be best described by reference to Fig. 2, the curves A, B, G, D and E therein representing respectively the periodic movements of the brander, pattern feed, reader, reciprocating grid and armatures, and curve F representing the corresponding variations of the energizing current.

The zero point of the diagram corresponds with that point in the cycle of operations at which the armatures and their associated control needles (curve E) have been raised by the lifting bar to their highest point. At this point the reader (curve C) is resting on the pattern which is stationary (curve B) and the magnetizing current is at its maximum value (curve F). The variation of the strength of the magnetizing current is obtained in known manner by means of a transformer the primary circuit and iron of which is given an appropriate movement in relation to the secondary circuit and iron. Such a transformer forms no part of the present invention, and any equivalent device may be substituted for producing a current variation such as exhibited in curve F. A suitable device for varying the strength of the magnetizing current and operatively connected with the control attachment is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11, and will be referred to again below.

During approximately the first quarter of the cycle the reader remains pressed on the pattern, the grid (curve D) is stationary, the lifting bar of the armatures is on its downward stroke, and the energizing current remains at maximum strength. At the end of the first quarter cycle (90 on the diagram) the lifting bar has fallen to its lowest point, and at this point the grid starts its forward stroke, engaging at about 30 later (viz. at about 120 in Fig. 2) all those control needles which have dropped, and it continues its forward stroke pressing the needles in front of it until the end of the second quarter cycle (180) when it is full forward at which point the brander of the jacquard, which has already started to rise, engages those hooks which have not been displaced by the needles of the jacquard. Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a machine at this phase of the cycle of operations. During the second quarter cycle also the reader bar has moved forward to lift the reader off the pattern and in doing so has closed the circuits of all the magnets in the machine. As the current from the transformer is of gradually diminishing strength during this quarter cycle and falls to zero during the next quarter cycle, the iron of all the magnets is demagnetized during this period. The current remains at zero value during a considerable part of the last two quarter cycles and during this period of zero current (from 228 to 312 in Fig. 2) the bar which has lifted the reader off the pattern recedes and breaks the magnet circuits but as the current in these circuits has been oth erwise annulled there is no spark on breaking contact. The reader is held. stationary and clear of the pattern during a considerable part of the second and third quarter cycles (from 162 to 252 in Fig. 2) and during this period the pattern is fed into position for the next shot (curve B). During the third quarter cycle the grid is on its back stroke during which those needles which have been displaced on the forward stroke of the grid are returned to their initial position by the springs in the springbox of the jacquard as explained in the above-cited patent specification. At this point the lifting bar which raises the armatures begins to rise, reaching its highest position at the end of the last quarter cycle, and during this quarter cycle, also the energizing current is raised to maximum value.

The mechanism for feeding the pattern at the appropriate time is illustrated in Fig. 3. From an eccentric upon the main shaft of the machine the link it drives the bellcrank lever k and this in turn, through a camshaped slot in its outer arm, drives the bellcrauk lever which in turn drives a fric tion pawl 70 through the roller 70*. While the range of the bellcrank lever 70 is constant, the range of the friction pawl N can be varied by varying the position of the roller 70* along the length of the corresponding arm of the bellcrank lever 76*. The

amount of feed can thus be varied within the required limits, the drive of the bellcrank 70 being timed with the other movements of the machine to secure that the feed takes place during the period illustrated in Fig. 2, when the reader is lifted clear of the pattern.

The friction feed is of well-known type and it may be associated with gear providing an index to the weaver of the position of the pattern, such as that described in specification of United States Patent No. 604,299, dated 17th May, 1898.

Fig. 11 shows diagrammaticaly at J a transformer electrically connected with a dynamo J and of a kind adapted to vary the strength of the current by appropriate relative movements of the primary and secondary circuits. j is the pattern, j the reader, j the reader lift, L a contact or residual bar, a one of the electromagnets of the control attachment and 70 a needle associated with the electromagnet. The reader is periodically moved by the lift so as to be in contact with the contact bar L, as in Fig. 11 or with the pattern. The movements of the reader and the relative movements of the members of the transformer are so correlated that when the reader is in contact with the bar L the current is a minimum and when in contact with the pattern a maximum. In Fig. 11 the circuit is J, leads M, Q, bar L, reader j lift j, lead 0, armature a, lead P. When the reader is in contact with the pattern the circuit is J, leads M, N, pattern reader j", lift j, lead 0, armature a, lead P.

The mechanisms in Figs. 1 and 3 to which the reference characters G, H, I are applied form no part of this invention and therefore need no description.

Fig. 4: is an elevation of a modified construction of mechanism for raising the armatures and moving the control needles. In this modified construction, in which the complete action for a vertical row of 12 needles is self-contained in a single frame occupying a breadth no more than the center-tocenter distance between the needles ofthe jacquard machine in a horizontal row, the vertical reciprocation of the armatures and the horizontal reciprocation of the needles is secured by one action through the grid 0. This grid has movement about the fulcrums 0 0 through links 0 0, the low one being positively operated from a cam on the main shaft. The movement is such that by swinging link 0 past the vertical to the right, the links lift the grid when it is swinging to the right and the needles 7) which pass through holes in the armatures a are lifted by the grid and they in turn lift the armatures into their highest position in which the projections 19 upon the needles which cooperate with projections on the grid lac will be out of the path of the latter when the grid swings; forward, that is toward the left, Should the magnet corresponding to any given needle be energized by receiving current, as the grid moves from right to left the armature and with it the control needle is retained in its upper position, and the corresponding needle of the jacquard will not be actuated, but should the magnet not be energized the armature needle will fall with the grid during the first part of the movement of the grid from right to left, and as this movement is continued the projection on the grid will engage the projection on the needle and the needle will be pressed forward to displace the jacquard needle against the pressure of the jacquard spring and thereby operate the corresponding hook.

In the particular construction last described, the magnets are preferably constructed as illustrated in Figs. and 6. The coil a is wound upon a recess in a short cylinder a of suitable magnetic material so that the poles a of the magnet project beyond the coil at the upper and lower end. The armatures consist of tubes a of similar magnetic material fitting loosely over the poles and forming with the poles and core of the magnet a closed magnetic circuit. The ends of the needles pass through holes a in the lower ends of the tubular armatures which are also slotted as at a to allow free movement to the needle next above.

In Fig. 4 the needles, magnets and grid are shown in full lines in the positions corresponding with the beginning of the latter part of the return stroke of the grid, namely of the armature lifting part of the stroke. The dotted lines show the position of parts at the end of the forward stroke, it being assumed that certain of the magnets are energized, viz: those whose armatures are shown dot-ted in the raised position.

Each of the individual frames 9', of a set of such frames constituting a control device, is adapted to be dropped into place in the control attachment. In the standard attachment there are fifty such frames side by side the grids of which are actuated simultaneously. It will be seen that any needle or magnet of the whole 600 com prised in the attachment can be readily got access to by removing the frame in which it is included, none of the other frames being disturbed.

I claim 1. In an electrically controlled jacquard machine having a plurality of acquard needles, a plurality of vertically r ovable hooks controlled by the needles, a brander and means for reciprocating the brander, a separate self-contained device for controlling the needles comprising, in combination, a number of vertically reciprocating armatures, a corresponding number of electric magnets associated with the armatures, electric cir cuits controlling said magnets, a series of auxiliary control needles one for each jacquard needle and respectively in substantially axial alinement therewith, each of said auxiliary needles having one end formed to engage and operate the corresponding jacquard needle and the other end in engagement with one of said armatures, a pattern, mechanism for feeding the pattern, a pattern reader, a second mechanism for raising and lowering the reader periodically, mechanisms adapted to move axially the said control needles, and periodically raise the armatures and the ends of auxiliary needles cor related therewith, transformer mechanism adapted to vary the strength of the magnetizing current in the said circuits, and means operated by the driving shaft of the machine and adapted to effect the operations of the said mechanisms in definite relation one with the other and with the reciprocations of the brander.

2. In an electrically controlled jacquard machine having a plurality of jacquard needles, a plurality of vertically movable hooks controlled by the needles, a brander and means for reciprocating the brander, a separately attached electric needle control device comprising, in combination, a number of vertically reciprocating armatures, a corresponding number of electro-magnets associated with the armatures, electric circuits cont-rolling said magnets, a series of axially movable control needles one for each jacquard needle and respectively in substantially axial alinement therewith, each of said control needles having one end formed to engage and operate the corresponding jac quard needle and the other end supported by one of said armatures, means for closing some of said circuits, thereby energizing some of said magnets, means for raising said armatures with the respective control needles, and means for shifting axially the control needles corresponding with the non-energized magnets at appropriate times to operate the corresponding jacquard needles.

3. In an electrically controlled jacquard machine having a plurality of jacquard needles, a plurality of vertically movable hoo is controlled by the needles, a brander and means for reciprocating the brander, a separately attached electric needle control device comprising, in combination, a number of vertically reciprocating armatures, a corresponding number of electro-magnets associated with the armatures, electric circuits controllin said magnets, a series of control needles one for each jacquard needle and respectively in substantially axial alinement therewith, each of said control needles having one end formed to engage and operate the corresponding jacquard needle and the other end resting on one of said armatures,

means for closing some of said circuits, thereby energizing some of said magnets, a reciprocating grid adapted to raise the armatures of the electro-magnets on its back stroke, to release the said armatures on the first part of its forward stroke and to engage and displace axially the needles corresponding with the non-energized magnets on the second part of its forward stroke.

4. In jacquard machines having a plurality of jacquard needles, an electric control attachment comprising a plurality of control magnets, each consisting of a cylindrical core having pole pieces, a coil surrounding the core intermediate of the pole pieces, and a tubular armature adapted to reciprocate upon the pole pieces and thereby form a closed magnetic circuit in all Working positions of the armature, and a series of control needles one for each jacquard needle and respectively in substantially axial alinement therewith, each of said control needles having one end formed to engage andvoperate the corresponding acquard needle and the other end resting on one of said armatures, the said armatures having solid lower ends pierced to accommodate the end of the control needles with which they are associated.

5. In jacquard machines havin a plurality of jacquard needles, an electrlc control attachment comprisin a plurality of control magnets, each consisting of a cylindrical core having pole pieces, a coil surrounding the core intermediate of the pole pieces, and a tubular armature adapted to reciprocate upon the pole pieces and thereby form a closed magnetic circuit in all working positions of the armature, and a series of control needles one for each jacquard needle and respectively in substantially axial alinement therewith, each of said control needles having one end formed to engage and operate the corresponding jacquard needle and the other end resting on one of said armatures, the said armatures having solid lower ends pierced to accommodate the end of the con trol needles with which they are associated, and also slotted to receive the end of the control needle supported on an adjacent armature as and for the purpose described.

6. In jacquard machines having a plurality of jacquard needles, a separately attached self-contained electric needle control device comprising a frame, a number of sets of mechanisms, each set being independent of another and separately and removably mounted in the frame, and each mechanism consisting of a number of axially movable control needles one for each jacquard needle, a corresponding number of electro-magnets having armatures each correlated with a control needle, a reciprocating grid adapted to raise the armatures and actuate the control needles, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS ALBERT BRIGGS CARVER.

Witnesses:

W. J. SKERTEN,

Josnrrr WILLARD.

flopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. G. 

